Descending Into A Novel

Chapter 174:Erin’s Questions

"Weeee—!"

Ellen threw her up into the air again, carefully catching her as she fell back down. Before once more throwing her back up into the air.

"Someone is really happy today."

Even after hearing Raymond’s explanation, when faced with Erin’s current energetic self. It was hard to believe the previous times were all considered as low energy. Like being blinded by a light and being told the light was on dim mode.

It was very fun however.

"Weeee—!"

It was a shame that it wouldn’t last forever as well, once the mana sustaining her ran out. She would return to low power mode until she actively absorbed mana again. Which would cause problems.

"Weeee—!"

Carefully setting her down, she tugged on her shirt. Pleading for more as she jumped up and down.

"More! More!"

Although maybe her low power mode was also good. Ellen had been doing this with Erin for twenty minutes now and she still wanted more.

It was hard to satiate someone hungry, but it was even harder to satiate someone who was extremely hungry.

Seeing that she wasn’t going to be thrown up high anymore. Erin immediately switched her goal.

"Mom! Mom!"

"Yes Erin?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can."

"What is my last name?"

Ellen stared at Erin’s cute face for a while longer.

Erin’s last name. She had to admit, this was an extremely pressing matter that she hadn’t even thought about once in the few months Erin had been with them.

She also immediately recognized why Erin was asking her this question.

Worriedly asking her, "Did anyone ask you what your last name is at school yesterday?"

"My friend Charlotte asked me."

That confirmed it.

Young kids from Families tended to be very discriminatory against what they considered peasants and non-nobles. Even when they themselves technically weren’t nobility either.

"What did you tell her?"

"Uhm...I said Vance-Grace."

Whew. At least she said her last name. If she had only said Raymond’s last name. She would have faced some severe bullying for the sole reason of not being from a Family.

But also, saying both of their last names.

It’s not like they were married or anything...

But it sounded as if she was married to Raymond. When they weren’t, in fact. They were very far away from that!

"Can I ask another question?"

"Just ask me you don’t need to ask each time."

"Then. When is my birthday?"

Another extremely important matter that Ellen hadn’t even thought about.

How in the world was she supposed to know what day Erin was born? It’s not like she was Erin’s actual mom!

Raymond knew of a spell that could look at the history of objects and people. But with his current weakened state, he was still far off from being able to use it on Erin to determine her birth date.

Thinking quickly, Ellen asked her. "When do you want your birthday to be?"

"I can choose my birthday?"

"Yes..?"

"Then I want mommy’s birthday!"

"..."

Well, Ellen could only blame herself she supposed.

First Raymond and now Erin as well. How come her birthday had become the default option for the two of them to choose. It’s your birthday! Why choose mine as well?! Now all three of them were sharing the same birthday, when neither Raymond nor Erin actually had the

She sighed.

Whatever, it’s not like it was a big deal or anything.

"Uhm...also. How old am I?"

"..."

At least for the other questions, Ellen had a good answer for them. But this one, she had absolutely no clue on Erin’s actual age.

Based on rough estimates, she seemed to be around 6 to 8 at least?

But based on what Raymond had told her, dragons aged differently compared to humans. They aged slowly, and technically never stopped growing their whole life.

Hehe, which meant Erin would remain young and cute for longer. She was already dreading the rebellious phase that all kids had to go through. She didn’t know how her parents had managed.

A dragon that was half a millennium old was the human equivalent of a 19 year old, only considered a late teenager that would soon enter their adulthood. Given Erin’s small size, she definitely wasn’t as young as she looked.

Based on that ratio, it would mean Erin was at least one hundred and fifty...but dragons also didn’t age in a linear manner. Which was also good because Ellen couldn’t stomach the idea of Erin being nearly three times her age even after including her regression. That was just wrong.

She would have to go ask Raymond sometime. He knew much more about dragons then she did.

Although, Ellen was pretty sure he didn’t know Erin’s age either.

"I’ll tell you your age next time."

She would have to delay this answer for next time. Hopefully by then, she would have a proper answer, and not just a hastily made up one like for the previous question.

"Why not now?"

"You’re...too young?"

"??!"

***

"What’s wrong? You look glum today."

Charlotte couldn’t help but feel like Erin was quite...odd.

From the mana absorption situation two days ago, to not knowing her own age and birthday. Erin was more like an alien that had perfectly copied human behavior, without the actual data to back it up. An empty human shell.

"Hnngh—! My mom won’t tell me how old I am."

Ignoring that ignoble sound of frustration from Erin. Charlotte only felt her confusion about her Family grow more.

She even wondered whether she was actually from the Grace Family like she claimed to be.

But according to her teachers, she actually was telling the truth there. So it seemed the Family was just odd.

Case in point.

"Erin. What are you eating right now?"

"My mom and dad made this for me. It’s really good!"

The Rosemere Academy had some of the best chefs cooking up fresh meals for every student every day. Although most of the students there preferred to have their own private chefs from home to cook for them.

Having your own parents cook for you was something Charlotte couldn’t imagine her own parents doing that in a million years. Nor any of her classmates receiving the same treatment from their parents.

It also showed just how much Erin’s parents actual cared for and loved her. Spending time out of their busy days just to cook and prep food for her.

Although...

Crunch crunch

"??!"

Why was Erin’s entire packed lunch just meat?!

While it definitely smelled and looked good. The only variety seemed to be the fact that they were each from different animals. Charlotte counted at least four different animals at least already.

Also!!

Crunch crunch

Why was Erin eating the bones?!

Given how sharp her teeth was, it was a miracle that she didn’t break them. Each bite sounded extremely intense. None of them had even formed a core yet and were still unranked, meaning they were essentially just slightly better regular humans.

"Do you want some? It’s really good!"

"...no thanks."

Charlotte would much rather stick to her own meal. Made by professional chefs who were also experts when it came to nutrition, and had carefully curated her meals to be the optimal amount for a young growing child of her age.

It also didn’t include any bones.

Something Charlotte never thought she had to worry about in her life.

"You don’t want to try..?"

Kkh.

With Raymond and Ellen as her parents, unfortunately for Erin (and Raymond and Ellen). They weren’t exactly the best role models to take after for every day life. Even when they tried to hide it from her. A few odd moments still slipped through.

They might have interacted semi-normally most of the time. But every once in a while...

Even if they didn’t mean to, Erin had picked up quite a few useful skills and knowledge from watching them. Some of them being things that no one her age should know.

"Please..?"

Like how Raymond always tried to use the puppy eyes on Ellen. Erin was recreating this exact strategy now without even realizing it. This time on Charlotte.

"Uhm...I—

Charlotte really didn’t want to try it at all. She wasn’t even sure if her own teeth could handle it like Erin’s could.

But seeing Erin’s pleading face. With her mouth curving slightly downwards in a frowny expression like :(

"...ill try a small piece."

In the end, she gave in within seconds.

"Yayy!"

Right in front of Charlotte’s eyes. Erin proceeded to snap off a piece of bone with barely any effort. Before handing it to her.

"..."

Charlotte was starting to regret this already.

But she couldn’t back out now. She also had her honor after all!

Putting it into her mouth, Charlotte thought her teeth was about to break. Biting down on the hard object with as much force as she could muster. Yet failing to even make a dent in it.

It was at this point Charlotte realized an important fact, while also wondering at the same time.

...why was Erin so strong as well?!?